Regional board unhappy with provincial government on lack of Bill 24 consultation

NEWS/ REGION — The board of directors of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District wants more consultation before the provincial government finalizes Bill 24, the controversial amendments to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

The changes would split the province into two parts with different sets of rules.

Kamloops director Arjun Singh said the province has done “a very poor job” of consultation and proposed the board fire off a letter demanding the TNRD be allowed input before the act, which has gone through first reading, is passed.

Most directors, but not all, agreed with him, though there was some doubt it would do any good..

“We need to be fairly strong about letting us in the game now,” said Area I director Steven Rice.

Cache Creek director John Ranta, however, said he was OK with the process. “I have a tendency to support the changes,” he said, adding, “I realize it’s a leftwing-rightwing sort of thing.”

“It’s a consultation thing,” retorted Singh, who said he simply didn’t want the bill to be a fait accompli.

“I think it’s a really important thing for us as local government to make the point we can’t be ignored this way.”

A report from staff staid Bill 24 “would have a significant impact across the TNRD” because land owners whose applications for subdivision and non-farm use have been rejected will likely re-apply.

The motion to send a letter was approved.